Types of Discounts
- Percentage discount: "20% off" — the most common type. Remove 20% from the original price.
- Fixed amount discount: "$10 off" — a flat dollar/unit reduction.
- Buy X get Y free: Equivalent to a percentage discount based on total items.
- Stacked discounts: Multiple discounts applied sequentially (not additive!).
⚠️ Stacked Discounts Trap: "20% off, then additional 10% off" is NOT 30% off total. It's: 80% × 90% = 72% of original price = 28% total savings. Our calculator shows this correctly.
The Discount Formula
Simple percentage discount:
- Discount amount = Original Price × Discount% / 100
- Sale price = Original Price - Discount Amount
- Reverse (find original): Original = Sale Price / (1 - Discount%/100)
How to Use the Discount Calculator
1Open the Discount Calculator.
2Enter the original price and discount percentage.
3See the sale price, savings amount, and savings percentage instantly.
4Use Reverse Mode to find the original price when you know the sale price and discount.
Real-World Use Cases
- E-commerce shoppers: Quickly verify if a "sale price" actually reflects the advertised discount.
- Business owners: Set promotional prices and calculate margin impact.
- Sales teams: Calculate client discounts without a spreadsheet.
- Teachers & educators: Create discount math problems for students.
FAQ
What's the difference between "20% off" and "pay 80%"?
They're mathematically identical — paying 80% means you're getting 20% off. Our calculator shows both values clearly.
How do I calculate the original price after a discount?
Use our Reverse Discount mode: enter the sale price and discount percentage, and we'll compute the original price. Formula: Original = Sale / (1 - discount/100).